A little rain couldn’t dampen The Weeknd’s performance at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday night. Read More
The rain and gloom only added to atmosphere of the show at Commonwealth Stadium
The rain and gloom only added to atmosphere of the show at Commonwealth Stadium
Article content
A little rain couldn’t dampen The Weeknd’s performance at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday night.
Article content
In some ways, the grey clouds and gloomy weather contributed to the dark, gothic, cult-like vibes that the After Hours Till Dawn Tour set was meant to evoke.
Article content
Article content
In the middle of Commonwealth field lay a large cross-shaped walkway, laced in gold and black trim, stretching from end zone to end zone. At one end of the cross stood the main stage, which featured a projector screen positioned above a display of collapsed iconic New York skyscrapers painted gold. In the centre of the cross stood an enormous golden statue of a woman posed like a ski jumper mid-flight.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
I wasn’t sure what was about to happen, but it gave off the vibes of a religious experience.
Article content
Headline News
Article content
It didn’t take long for The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) to confirm my suspicions, emerging from the stage sporting the attire of a dark preacher or cult leader, a gold-laced black robe, a golden mask with glowing eyes and a diamond-encrusted gold microphone. He was flanked by dancers wrapped in red robes and sporting similar golden masks.
Article content
Article content
From that moment, The Weeknd gave his Edmonton fans a show full of exquisitely executed visual spectacle and a ceaseless commitment to showmanship that kept the crowd glued to his every word and movement. He promised the audience there would be no bad seats in the house, and he used the full length of the stage to make good on that promise.
Article content
While the evening was meant to promote his most recent album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, which debuted last January, he also mixed in classic hits across his entire discography, from his debut album, Kissland, to Starboy, After Hours, and Beauty Behind the Madness.
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
Had to dance
Article content
Read More
-
Review: Broadway Across Canada’s The Lion King a fully immersive experience
-
REVIEW: Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Queensrÿche a killer kickoff to Rockin’ Thunder
-
Advertisement embed-more-topic
Story continues below
Article content
Every time I thought it was safe to take a moment of rest in my chair, he’d go into songs like Often, I Feel It Coming, and I Can’t Feel My Face that I couldn’t help but dance. By the end of the night I’d worked up quite a sweat and was glad I’d skipped leg day.
Article content
It wasn’t just his crooning that captivated the crowd, however, as the stage was also packed with strobe lights, smoke emitter, and pyrotechnics that kept us on our toes, figuratively and literally. After a while, the sun had set enough for me to realize why everyone was given small light-up wristbands upon entering the arena — the lights blinked various colours in sync with the beat of the music, creating a glittering effect across the stadium that added to the show’s unique visuals.
Article content
Beyond the lights, visual aids, and crimson-clad dancers, I was most impressed by The Weeknd’s tireless and seemingly effortless showmanship, with continuous callouts to Edmonton and its fans, mixing them into the lyrics of his songs. That showmanship never wavered or diminished during his non-stop two-hour performance.